Fan cylinder



H. E. FORDYCE FAN CYLINDER Nov. 26, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet l FiledOct. 19. 1953 Nov. 26, 1957 H. E FoRDYcE FAN CYLINDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 19, 1953 INVENToR. #omer E. @mj/e BY i/7 ./,ff/ Arme/ve 2,814,435 Patented Nov. 26, V1957 ice FAN CYLINDER Homer E. Fordyce, Gashland, M0., assignor to The Marley Company, Kansas City, Mo., a corporation of Delaware Application ctober 19, 1953, Serial N0. 386,989

3 Claims. (Cl. T30-133) This invention relates to improvements in water cooling towers, particularly those operating on a forced draft principle and including therefore, a fan for creating artificial currents of air and forcing the same through the splash decks of the tower to cool the water gravitating therein.

lt is the primary object of the present invention to provide improved air flow structure including not only a fan ring but an outlet stack for hot air emanating from the toweras induced by the fan located within the ring, all for the purpose of rendering the operation of the tower more effective so far as cooling of the hot water is concerned.

lt is the most important object of the present invention to provide a recover-type Venturi fan cylinder adapted for mounting on the top of a water cooiing tower including a body having a stack combined with a fan ring formed to present a constriction to the ow of hot air emanating from the fan and to permit rapid and immediate reduction in pressure as the hot air emanates from the fan ring and is forced into the stack of the body.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a combination fan ring and hot air outlet stack wherein the stack portion of the hollow body is not only integral with the fan ring, but extends well above the top of the tower so that the hot air is exhausted at a point far removed from the air inlet of the tower, thereby reducing the likelihood of the fan recirculating the hot air back through the splash deck of the water cooling tower.

Another object of this invention is to provide structure of the attore-mentioned character that is easily and inexpensively manufactured and yet sturdy, all through the inclusion of a novel arrangement of the staves forming the body, together with unique framework and reinforcement designed to hold the body in proper configuration and to prevent misalignment or other displacement of the parts thereof during long continued use.

Other objects include many important details of construction all of which will be made clear or become apparent as the following specification progresses.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a side elevational View of a fan cylinder made pursuant to the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary, top plan View thereof.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, detailed, vertical, cross-sectional View of the cylinder.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged, detailed view partially in horizontal section illustrating a portion of the uppermost body encircling band.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary, detailed, elevational view similar to Fig. l, illustrating the manner of connecting the linear sections of the uppermost body encircling band.

Fig. 6 is a detailed, vertical, cross-sectional View through the uppermost band illustratingV the manner of attaching its reinforcing rods thereto.

- receiving throat.

Fig. 7 is au enlarged, fragmentary, detailed, elevational view of the uppermost end of one of the A-frames.

Fig. 8 is a detailed view partially in vertical cross-section showing the manner of connecting the upright beams of the A-frames.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged, detailed, elevational View showing the way in which the lowermost ends of the said beams and ti e fan ring studs are mounted; and

Fig. 10 is a detailed View partially in vertical section showing the connection between the lowermost ends of the beams and the bottom body encircling hoop.

It is recognized that in the field of water cooling towers there is commonly provided a fan-encircling ring having a constriction to the ow of hot air emanating from the tower and motivated by the operation of the rotating fan. Such construction is shown in my U. S. Letters Patent No. 2,681,179, issued June l5, 1954, this being a continuation-in-part thereof.

lt has also been previously suggested that there be included in water cooling towers, an upright stack for carrying the hot air away from the fan, well beyond the air inlet of the tower so as to reduce the tendency of recirculation. For the most part, however, each of these two desirable features have heretofore been separate yso far as construction is concerned and the stacks normally employed are truly cylindrical, making it impossible for the air pressure to reduce until the hot air actually escapes from the stack at its uppermost end.

As is apparent from the drawings, the construction herein contemplated provides for a stack having a fan ring integral therewith, a constriction to the free iiow of air emanating from the fan, and a configuration so far as the stack itself is concerned such as to permit rapid expansion, and therefore, reduction in the pressure of the hot air immediately as it emanates from the fan operating within the conoidal ring.

Accordingly, the combination fan ring and hot air outlet stack of the present invention consists of a hollow, upright body l2 that is tubular throughout its length and of circular, cross-sectional configuration from the lowermost open end thereof to the uppermost open end of body l2.

Body l2 consists of a frusto-conical stack lli having an outwardly and downwardly flared skirt 16 at the bottom thereof, presenting a relatively short conoidal fan- The greatest diameters of the body l2 are at the uppermost and lowermost ends thereof and in the form of the invention chosen for illustration, the uppermost hot air outlet end of the body i2 may be of slightly greater diameter than that of the open inlet end at the bottom of the throat 16.

The body l2 has its smallest diameter adjacent a circumscribing hoop 18 at the line of juncture integrally interconnecting the stack lli and the throat 16, presentig a constriction to the flow of hot air emanating from the underlying water cooling tower (not shown) and forced upwardly through the body 12 by the operation of such fan. It is contemplated that the fan be mounted for rotation on a vertical axis within the throat or skirt 16 substantially on a center line 20 spaced slightly below said line of smallest diameter as illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

The stack 14 of body lZfgradually and uniformly eX- pands from the hoop 18 to the uppermost end thereof and as clear from Figs. l and 3 of the drawings, the stack 14 is of appreciably greater height than the skirt 16 so that all of the hot air emanating from the body l2 is carried upwardly well beyond the underlying tower, thereby virtually eliminating any chance of recirculation of the hot air by the fan within the throat 16.

Such funnel-form configuration of the stack 14 and the conoidal shape of the skirt 16 is easily and inexpensively produced by proper choosing of the material from which the body 12 is made and to this end there is included an innermost layer of staves 22 and an outermost layer of staves 24 wherein all of the staves are of beudable material such as redwood or other suitable substance.

`It is to be noted that the staves 22 and 24 are all transversely horizontal and extend in length from a lowermost hoop 26 forming `the lowermost open end of the body 12 to an uppermost circular hoop 28 forming the hot air outlet opening of the structure. As is particularly clear in Figs. 2 and 4 of the drawings, the staves 24 are so arranged as to break joint with the staves 22 forming the innermost layer. All of the staves 22 and 24 are bolted, nailed, screwedor otherwise attached directly to all of the circumscribing hoops including hoops 18, 26 and 28 previously mentioned, together with intermediate hoops 30, 32, 34 and 36.

It is contemplated that the entire structure forming the subject matter of the present invention be so designed as to permit construction at the site of installation and upon the `cooling tower with which the same is to be associated. Accordingly, all of the circular hoops that circumscribe the body 12, are likewise made of flexible strips `of various lengths, bendable into the arcuate contiguration illustrated in Fig. 2 and laminated to present a strong reinforcement and means of attachment for the staves 22 and 24.

The lowermost hoop 26 may` be bolted or otherwise afhxed directly to the uppermost wall 38 of a cooling tower in direct alignment with the air outlet opening 40 thereof and is so designed as shown in Figs. 3 and 10, to present an upwardly facing annular groove 42 for receiving the lowermost ends of the staves 22 and 24. When the series of laminations of the hoop 26 are interconnected and attached to the wall 38 of the cooling tower, the groove 42 adequately holds the lowermost ends of the staves 22,and 24 from movement or displacement radially inwardly or outwardly with respect to the vertical axis of the body 12. The uppermost ends of the staves 22 and 24 are likewise preferably interleaved in the hoop 28 as shown in Fig. 3 and attached thereto by the same means that serves to hold the laminations of the hoop 28 together.

'It is obvious that the greatest amount of outward thrust radially is against the hoop 18 and, therefore, a relatively strong reinforcement or holding framework is provided therefor. Such framework includes a plurality of upright studs 44 spaced apart and arranged in a circular series around the body 12 and particularly in encircling relationship to the hoop 18. The elongated studs 44 are cut away as at 46 adjacent their lowermost ends to clear the skirt 16 and are joined rigidly to the lowermost hoop 26through the medium of Lshaped brackets 48 connected with the studs 44 and with the hoop 26 by bolts or other fastening elements. The hoop 36 is in turn fitted tightly within notches 50 formed at the uppermost ends of the studs 44 and the latter are in turn secured to the body 12 .at their uppermost ends by joinder to a body-encircling band 52.

A similar band 54 surrounds the body 12 and particularly the stack 14 thereof immediately above the hoop 30 and is best seen in Fig. 4 of the drawings. Band 54 consists of a plurality of relatively short, linear sections S6. The sections 56 are in abutting relationship and are interconnected by a plurality of trapezoidal plates 58, as well as by alternate rectangular plates 60 as shown by Figs. 7 and 5 respectively.

Sections 62, similar to the sections 56, form the band 52 and the relatively abutting sections 62 are likewise interconnected by T-shaped plates 64, plates 64 also serving to `join the studs 44 to the band 52. Accordingly, 'as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings,` there is a T-shaped plate 64 for each stud 44 respectively.

A short block 66 is. interposed between each stud 44 respectively and the hoop 18 and common fastening means may be employed to interconnect the studs 44, their blocks 66, the hoop 18 and the body 12 at the zone of juncture between the stack 14 and the skirt 16.

It is thus seen that by virtue of the flexible or bendable characteristics ofthe staves 22 and 24 forming the body 12, the latter is bent inwardly and held in such position by the action of the studs 44 acting on the ring 18 through the blocks 66.` While the staves 22 and 24 are preferably straight throughout their lengths from adjacent the hoop 118 to the hoop 28, the hoop 18 holds the staves 22 and 24 longitudinally arched adjacent thereto, and it is to be preferred further that the diameter of the lowermost hoop 26 be such as to provide a gentle curve longitudinally in the` staves 22 and 24v between the hoops 18 and 26.

The blocks 66 are held tightly against the periphery of the hoop 18 and the studs 44 are held against outward radial movement by reinforcing structure within the body 12 that connects with all of the sections 62 of the band 52. Such reinforcing structure includes a plurality of cables 68 each connecting with an eye-bolt '7U extend ing through the body 12, through the band 52, and the plates 64.

Similar reinforcing structure is provided for the band 54 and which includes a plurality of cables 72 joined at their innermost ends to a central ring 74 and at their outermost ends to eye-bolts 76. As shown in Figs. 4 and 6, the eye-bolts 76 extend through the body 12, the band 54 and plates 58 or 60 as the case may be. The cables 68 are secured to an innermost ring (not shown) similar to the ring 74 and all of the cables 68 and 72 are provided with clamps 78 both at the centerrnost rings and at the eye-bolts to permit take-up and, therefore, maintainance of the respective bands 52 and 54 tightly against the outer surface of the body 12.

The entire body 12 is further supported and reinforced by a plurality of upright A-frames throughout the circumference of the body 12 and each including a pair of elongated beams 80 converging as the uppermost ends thereof are approached. The ring 54 rests directly upon the uppermost ends of the beams 80 and, as shown in Figs. 3 and 8 of the drawings, the hoop 30 is partially cleared through the medium of notches 82 in the uppermost ends of the beams 80. Beams 80 are interconnected and joined to the hoop 30 by bolts or the like that pass through the corresponding plates 58. Similarly, plates 84 interconnect the beams 80 at their lowermost ends and join the latter with the hoop 26 as shown in Figs. 9 and l0 of the drawings.

It is seen that by provision of the beams 80, the entire weight of the body 12 is not supported entirely by the lowermost ends of the staves 22 and 24 resting within the groove 42. The studs 44 likewise serve the additional function of receiving downward thrust of the body 12 together with the weight of the various structural parts associated therewith and hereinabove identified.

Through use of the plurality of hoops 18, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34 and 36, together with bands 52 and 54, when considered in connection with the supporting and reinforcing framework that includes studs 44 and beams 8), the entire structure is adequately tied together as a unit and any tendency of the body 12 to twist or become other wise misshapen is further eliminated by the equalized force of the connecting cable structure 68-72.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination, a tubular body including a plurality of elongated, initially ilat, tiexible staves; a pair of spaced retainers operably connected with the body for holding the staves against inward radial movement adjacent each retainer; and a hoop surrounding the body in engagement with the staves between the retainers, the diameter of the hoop being less than the diameter of the body at said retainers whereby the hoop holds the staves tensioned inwardly and longitudinally arched between the retainers.

2. In combination, a tubular body including a plurality of elongated, initially flat, ilexible staves; a pair of spaced retainers operably connected with the body for holding the staves against inward radial movement adjacent each retainer; a hoop surrounding the body in engagement with the staves between the retainers, the diameter of the hoop being less than the diameter of the body at said retainers whereby the hoop holds the staves tensioned inwardly and longitudinally arched between the retainers; and means for holding the hoop against increasing in diameter.

3. In combination, a tubular body including a plurality of elongated, initially flat, flexible staves; retention means holding the staves against inward radial movement at one end of the body; a hoop surrounding the body and secured thereto for holding the staves against inward radial movement adjacent said hoop; and stave-deforming means including backing means interconnecting the hoop and said retention means, and structure interposed between the body and said backing means for holding the staves tensioned inwardly and longitudinally arched between the hoop and the retention means.

4. In combination, a tubular body including a plurality of elongated, initially at, exible staves; retention means holding the staves against inward radial movement at one end of the body; a irsthoop surrounding the body and secured thereto for holding the staves against inward radial movement adjacent said iirst hoop; and stave-deforming means including a second hoop of lesser diameter than said first hoop and surrounding the body between the tirst hoop and said retention means for holding the staves tensioned inwardly and longitudinally arched between the rst hoop and the retention means, and backing means interconnecting the first hoop and the retention means for holding the second hoop against increasing in diameter.

5. In combination, a tubular body including a plurality of elongated, initially fiat, flexible staves; a pair of spaced retainers operably connected withfthe body for holding the staves against inward radial movement adjacent each retainer; a hoop surrounding the body in engagement with the staves between the retainers, the diameter of the hoop being less than the diameter of the body at said retainers whereby the hoop holds the staves tensioned inwardly and longitudinally arched between the retainers, said staves extending beyond one of said retainers presenting a frusto-conical stack portion progressively decreasing in diameter as said one retainer is approached; and means for holding the staves along said stack portion against radial movement. f

6. In combination, a tubular body including a plurality of elongated, initially flat, exible staves; a pair of spaced retainers operably connected with the body for holding the staves against inward radial movement adjacent each retainer; a hoop surrounding the body in engagement with the staves between the retainers, the diameter of the hoop being less than the diameter of the body at said retainers whereby the hoop holds the staves tensioned inwardly and longitudinally arched between the retainers, said staves extending beyond one of said retainers presenting a frusto-conical stack portion progressively decreasing in diameter as said one retainer is approached; and a plurality of hoops surrounding the body along said stack portion for holding the staves against radial movement, said hoops progressively decreasing in diameter as the first-mentioned hoop is approached.

7. In combination, an elongated, tubular body having a frusto-conical stack portion, progressively increasing in diameter as one end of the body is approached, and a skirt portion integral with the stack portion at that end of the latter opposite to said one end of the body, said skirt'portion being outwardly ared, and, therefore, progressively increasing in diameter as the opposite end of the body is approach; a plurality of hoops surrounding the stack portion and progressively increasing in diameter as said one end of the body is approached, the hoop of smallest diameter holding the body against increasing in diameter adjacent thereto, said body including a plu rality of initially ilat, elongated, flexible strips secured to the remaining hoops whereby the latter hold the strips against inward radial movement; and retainer means for holding the strips against inward radial movement at said opposite end of the body.

8. In combination, an elongated, tubular body having a frusto-conical stack portion, progressively increasing in diameter as one end of the body is approached, and a skirt portion integral with the stack portion at that end of the latter opposite to said one end of the body, said skirt portion being outwardly flared, and, therefore, progressively increasing in diameter as the opposite end of the body is approached; a plurality of hoops surrounding the stack portion and progressively increasing in diameter as said one end of the body is approached, the hoop of smallest diameter holding the body against increasing in diameter adjacent thereto, said body including a plurality of initially at, elongated, flexible strips secured to the remaining hoops whereby the latter hold the strips against inward radial movement; retainer means for holding the strips against inward radial movement at said opposite end of the body; and a number of loadbearing members depending from and in supporting relationship to one of the larger hoops.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,175,453 Keller Mar. 14, 1916 1,400,251 Van Cott Dec. 13, 1921 1,452,578 Van Cott Apr. 24, 1923 1,752,427 Fales Apr. 1, 1930 1,762,359 Schmidt June 10, 1930 2,466,827 Roth Apr. l2, 1949 2,603,062 Weiler et al. July 15, 1952 2,681,178 Mart June 15, 1954 2,681,179 Fordyce June 15, 1954 

